The bag contained 54 ploughshare tortoises and 21 radiated tortoises, both of which are endemic to Madagascar and assessed as critically endangered. The ploughshare tortoise is considered among the rarest species in the world, with just 400 individuals believed to be found in the wild.

The ploughshare tortoise populations have declined due to the burning of its habitat to make room for cattle and the illegal pet trade. They don't reach sexual maturity until they are at least 15 years old. Females then lay quite small clutches of between one and six eggs per breeding season. Because of their rarity, they can command high prices in the markets in South East Asia.

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The man was arrested at Suvarnabhumi International Airport by Royal Thai Customs officers as he tried to collect the bag from the luggage carousel. It is likely that the man had been aided by several other people who allowed him to access the baggage collection despite not being a passenger. The bag was registered in the name of a 25-year-old Malagasy woman who had flown from Madagascar to Bangkok, via Nairobi. She was also arrested. They will be tried under Thai law and, if convicted, could face four years in prison and a fine.

One the same day, Cites officers (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) also found 300 Indian star tortoises and 10 black pond turtles in an unclaimed bag. The former is prized as an exotic pet, despite being protected in India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

Thai authorities have seized more than 4,300 tortoises and turtles over the last three years.

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Chris Shepherd, Deputy Director of wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic, said in a statement: "The criminals behind this shipment of Ploughshare Tortoises have effectively stolen over 10 percent of the estimated population in the wild. They should face the full force of the law.

We urge authorities to go after the criminal masterminds behind these shipments and break the trade chains that threaten these incredibly rare animals."